Poem: False Hopes Are Claimed by the Lazy
Written by Mustafa Sadik Al-Rafii:
False are the hopes of those who are lazy,
And more deserving of dreams is the one who strives.
He who does not embrace hard work in all his affairs,
Sees every matter resulting in despair.
A person is nothing but his diligence and effort,
And these two alone are a man’s main allies.
It is as if people are running, all aiming for a goal,
While this earth has turned into a grand field.
Whoever possesses courage has indeed succeeded,
And he who hesitates faces all manners of ruin.
So, do not hesitate if an opportunity presents itself,
And do not underestimate even the smallest tasks.
Nor abandon the traits of the noble, for it is through character
That a person truly becomes human.
Poem: Do Not Inquire of the Liar About His Intentions
Authored by Abdullah Al-Tayyib:
Do not ask the liar about his intentions,
As long as his tongue declares its deceit.
His face reveals more than his heart ever could,
For his words are titles of his concealed nature.
Poem: Speak the Truth and Flee from Lies
By Nour Al-Din Al-Salmi:
Speak the truth and forsake falsehood,
For truth leads to salvation in the end.
Proclaim what is right, and do not fear,
Should the circles of fate turn against you.
The past is never altered; whether fate breathes or not,
Tell those who boast of offering advice,
That the matters they feign to fear
Are indeed void and without escape.
Death is what I fear, yet it is a certainty for all,
And death is preferable to a life of humiliation and toil.
For the free man, death is a solace,
Far better than a life filled with wrong.
Ride forth with determination, skyward in your pursuits,
And should fate overtake you, you shall find justice after your endeavors.
One who is wise will find alas if he does not manifest divine anger.
God has taken oaths from us,
That we shall not adorn ourselves with frivolities.
The profit of commerce is assured for those who keep their promises,
Thus God guarantees fidelity to those who uphold it.
Let our souls protect our faith;
We shall not trade our faith for gold.
For the soul is nobler than to suffer disgrace and scorn.
Return to yourself and restrain yourself
from courting disaster.
Heed the words of honor,
They shall be inscribed upon your heart.
For what you illuminate
is the legacy of noble lineage.
A honor that stirs hearts,
In the face of adversaries, a tempest.
A dignity that echoes what we’ve found within books,
A dignity that shows them we have not changed our state.
A dignity that reassures them that we belong to nobility
and lineage.
Thus, the Sultan may find excuses based on our strongest reasons,
When not of his counsel, we are aligned to ascent.
However, we are a people who dread
The deception that arises in their midst.
Would your honor extend to those who deceive us?
And God commands us to shun treachery.
So, approach them fairly
And do not let suspicion cloud your mind.
The adversary’s situation is clear to you,
The way he has turned.
He pillages kingdoms with cunning; you are well aware of his theft,
And has come to deceive you, claiming he is your devoted friend.
All the while, he intends to ensnare you
With traps you never anticipated.
From behind darkness, treacheries emerge,
With intentions hidden under the cover of night.
Whoever plans to hunt the uncatchable,
Will not evade the snares and threads.
How many battles have crushed their armies to dust,
How many occasions have turned kings into slaves?
How many invasions have led to treasures being plundered?
Can one expect goodwill
While their deception is ever-present?
Would a deceiver respect a rival
When he has the upper hand as we desire?
Your forebears have left you with nothing
But legions of troops and texts.
And in governance, they paved the path to greatness.
With gallantry, the foe trembles and trembles,
For it is not deception nor schemes that lead to war.
But rather, the strikes of cannons hurling
Among them like flocks of clouds.
Blood spills in such scenes like rain pouring down,
And the swords gleam like lightning, from afar.
Though outnumbered, they rise,
As guides to the heights of seeking.
Whoever champions the Lord will find victory,
But whoever shuns assistance shall wander lost.
And God tests His creation,
To reward those whom He loves.
He is the Omnipotent, and had He willed,
He could have granted aid to His servants without cause.
Yet, He has extended their lifespan
With a predetermined limit set.
It neither increases nor decreases; it is fixed.
And should one proceed in obedience,
They will find a favorable outcome.
But if one wanders elsewhere,
Destruction lies in wait through the ages.
Life indeed is fleeting,
If not managed, it will vanish.
For those who disobey the path of guidance,
There is a means to repent, so turn back.
I offer advice, though it may seem harsh,
And I am a well-wisher, even if you think me an adversary.
Though you may believe I deal in warfare,
And that my love comes from some sordid desire.
My counsel is not to be traded for riches,
But rather, it is a decree within me, bestowed by the Lord.
Wretched are those who fill courts,
For only they, indeed, do betray faith.
Your ambitions should soar not for mere matter,
In pursuit of pandering or trifling status.
Or for a word from a master,
To elevate him, while you’re left in regret.
O Lord, inspire our Lord, the Sovereign, to protect,
And unveil for him ranks of hopes,
Upon their diverse levels, not uniform.
He who seeks the heights does not equate
To him who strives for gold.
For the money seekers have eyes where riches dwell,
While those who aspire for majesty seek the stars.
Not every suitor of nobility succeeds,
Merely because he sought.
Like a noble lady, never compromised by gossip or doubt.
The heights refuse to descend for any who are timid,
Only those who dare regardless of the odds.
What are riches and this world worth?
They are but fleeting without virtue.
Indeed, piety grants a nobility that is lasting.
Should you find a sacred lineage with righteousness,
Value it above all.
For what noble descent can possibly bend,
To the base, when virtue walks beside?
A complete man is he who has attained greatness
And acquired noble character.
Through vigor, nobility flourishes from
All sides, up the ranks.
Raised by diligence and care from his youth,
He stands with honor that can’t be denied.
Brave one who stands with courage,
His face reveals the ardor of a hero.
Poem: The Deceiver on the Cross
By Ma’in Bseiso:
Upon a cross
Made of olive leaves,
There lies the deceitful savior
Like a raven
On a carpet of light.
“Weep, oh maidens!”
“With the tears of followers!”
Oh, all knights of the mire,
Surround the golden calf.
Before his final supper,
He vowed, “None among you will betray me,”
“Brothers, my flesh is your honeyed bread,”
“My wine, your joy of life.”
Two liars stand,
His eyes are half-closed.
The deceitful savior arose,
Like a thief among the slumbering,
With a dagger made of flames,
He slices through the maddened,
My brother’s flesh is bread to rifles,
The blood of my kin nourishes the gallows.
Poem: Those Who Claim Goodness Belong to the Fallen
Composed by Abu Alala Al-Ma’arri:
Whoever claims goodness among their kind, they are mere fabrications,
There is no goodness in this world, nor any choice of betterment.
The conduct of time is endlessly impressive,
Like the sea; it drowns in its shallow narratives.
We draw from the dust of our mother our needs,
And for the earth, we seek physical provisions.
How many events have transformed us?
Indeed, our Lord, the Almighty, has never changed by our shifts.